Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-03-23
WEST VIRGINIA POLITICS.
Notes Gathered From Here and There on
the Political Current.

] NONtS NAAANAEN h'Ah AANAS o"N
the Political Current.
At the election on the 9Th of April there
will be but one issue before the people
whether the Democratic principle that the
majority shall rule shall be sustained, or
whether the custom of boiling from the
party shall be confirmed. 1t is a plain
question, and the people should decide it
one way OF another. Those who endeavOr
TO bring in other issues are foes to the
Democratic arty.-ShepherdstOwn Register.
The Governor of West Virginia has or
dered an election in Jefferson county, to
till the vacancy caused by the resignation
of Hon. ID. b. Lucas, rs 4 member OF the
House of Delegates. This presents to the
Democratic voters and party, prominent
and vital questions, which we presume
will he fully discussed before election day.
The Republicans are really only observers
of the tight existing in Democratic ranks,
but the principle connected Herewith Is
one that may face them at any time.
The names of two net occupy a
prominent position, viz: MessSrS.
Camden and Lucas; but the real
question is: Shall the majority or
minority of delegated party representation
be obeyed? Shall caucus or anti-caucus
be recognized? In other words, If the
Democratic party of Jefferson county, at a
primary election, give a majority of votes
for one set of candidates, shall the minor
ity accede thereto, or shall the majority
yield to the minority? If the opposition
candidates, who ran against MeSsrs. Lucas
and Chew, had kicked and rebelled, an |
claimed the mastery, which would be
recognized? These are the questions.
Now at the special term of the Legislature,
a President of the Senate and Speaker of
the House, &c, will have To he elected.
viii parties caucus, and if yea, will the
minority say to the majority, nay? II so,
then, when Mr.. Lucas presents his creden-
tials to the United States Senate and a
majority rs to his seating, say yea, and
u minority, nay, and they fllibuster and
keep him out by defeatingactiUn, who shall
complain. or where will be the wrong? OPP
pOsite parties may do this as they wrestle
for neutrality-suspicious. tact and con-
tinued intriguing are the elements of the
contest, but in the household, how about it?
We do LOT answer this question. Suppose
n vote had been taken among the twelve
diSsenteIS and the majority had TO settle as
to who should be appointed and there had
been kicking by a minority of the twelve,
what principle would govern? This is the
Democratic issue. To the Republicans
comes the privilege now of patting the con-
testants and urging the boys OIL to renewed
effort and keep them at u until vitality is
exhausted and then down them both. Poor
Democrats! Happy Republicans!-Ndr
tiRS6Ury Independent.
There is, hoxRSeF, a bitter to the sweet,
OttentimeS, and so il is To West Virginia
Democrats ut this time. Some years ago,
when our party was strong, ~jealouSieS
sprang up among some of NOur a~SpirantS,
and that has been going on from had to
worse until il eliminated in an open Tup-
ture between the Democratic members of
our Legislature over the election Of a
United States Senator. There was, OF
course, n majority and a minority. The
majority assembled in caucus and nomin-
ated a gentleman for the position in the
manner that has received the sanction Of
u party in National, State, District and
county conventions for many years. The
minority nominated their man, but neither
NuOiN NASNA8 AlAu tue hNRubAiCiuS SlNpN
alOof. The Legislature adjourned without
having discharged n duty imposed upon it
by the Federal and State ConStitutiouS-tO
elect such Senator. To add to the compli-
cation, the Governor appointed 6 DIS
tinguished gentleman of this county,
Hon. d. h. Lucas, to fill the
vacant Senatorship, in the light of the
fact hat it viii become the duty of the
Legislature, at its session next month, to
elect a Senator in the mode prescribed by
the Constitution. In the meantime the
people of Jefferson will be called to elect a
member Of the House of Delegates to sue
coed Mr.. Lucas. Now. whatdoes the duty
ofthe hour demand? Shall the Democracy
at the polls encourage this split which
promises to split the party into smithereenS
unless it shall be closed up? Weare Dem
Ocrats By faith and from conviction, and
believe in adhering to rules and usages that
have kept our party organized for nearly a
century. However much we may esteem
any friend personally, We can have Meth
er patience nor forbearance with him in